At the Target near our new home they just started carrying all sorts of iced coffees including one that I'd seen around but in a variation I hadn't tried. Chameleon Cold Brew in a Mocha variation is working really well for me right now as I try to wake up and get motivated to finish the little bits and pieces I need to do here around the house. At a hefty 10$ a bottle you're supposed to get about 8 glasses of iced coffee out of the bottle. I'm getting about four so it's not the most economical but it's tasty. So as for the bottles I already own, I'm going to enjoy the hell out of it. Then probably go back to something a little less tough of the pocketbook.

When I look at the metrics for this website it doesn't really tell me much about what era of my life you've known me from. Well, it doesn't really tell me if you know me at all. Which is completely fine too. If you didn't know, at one point in my life I sang for a Hardcore Punk band. When I look back on the history of my life, this era of my life will be one of my favorites. Only preceded currently by my marriage, the birth of my son, and the eventual birth of my second son.

I was combing through some old photo's the other day. Looking at this time in my life when I was grasping for a unique subculture lend me their ears. I came across one of the most incredible pieces of compliment I'd received for playing music. A young man, whom I hadn't met at the time sent us a letter to just vocalize his appreciation for what we were doing as a band. The music we were making, and the message we were singing about.

I remember being halfway taken back by the whole barrage of compliment's. I remember thinking: "Well we haven't really done, or really said anything yet." We were relatively young a band, and we hadn't really made headway into a scene which, I'm not completely convinced we even made a scratch on. Eventually as a band we were able to tour to some far off lands, and play to some people whom otherwise may have never heard us at all. What came over this young man that he decided to reach out with such gall and offer us an unsolicited compliment? I'm still not sure. I can tell you with absolute certainty that to this day I haven't forgotten the note. I haven't forgotten what this young man looks like. He will forever be etched in my brain for the kindness and bravery he possessed to send our band this kind of compliment.

So why not pay this kind of feeling forward? There are times when I'm out in the world with my wife and she'll lean over and candidly say to me:"I like that lady's bag, or look how cool her shoes are!" I'll tell reply "Go tell her that."

Sometimes she does, sometimes she doesn't. At this point life for me is about making a positive impact on people. Sometimes i succeed, and yes, I definitely fail a lot. However, I try and make it a point to effect someone in a way that leaves them thinking."Man that guy is awesome." or "That guy is crazy/weird/insane/nuts/funny/comfortable."

I'm too old for "cool" and too ambivalent about myself to say nothing. So why not put yourself out on a limb and afford someone a compliment you may not normally give? You could have a lasting effect like the gentleman who sent me a letter that day.

Here's the thing people of the internet world. There are all sorts of people in your lives, I'm sure. There are the wacky ones, the confident ones, and the crazy ones. For me one of the people in my life is this lady Annie. She's a wacky, confident and crazy. Mostly because of her love of the theatrical arts.

I've seen her act in a few different performances over the years, but none have I been quite as impressed with as what she's pulling off in downtown Los Angeles.

Here's a synopsis taken from the ticket website:

"The Day Shall Declare It is an immersive, site-responsive theater installation that explores the concept of work, both what it means to us and what it does to us."

WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT MEAN?! Good question I'll try and lay this one out nice and easy for you.

The performance is called: "The Day Shall Declare It"

Immersive/Site-Responsive Theater means: You enter a building, which is the set of the play. The actors will interact with you as needed or inspired and the building you're in acts as a HUGE piece of the performance.

"Exploring the Concept of Work": What is WORK? You go there, you do it, and you are rewarded for doing it. Then you have to decide if it's all worth doing again. You know, something like that.

Anyway, take a look at some of the behind the scenes photo's I grabbed a few weeks ago of the team building out the "Site-responsive theater" and I hope you can make it down for one of the showings. I'm sure you'll be impressed.

I'm not really one for sentimental type stuff... Wait, what the fuck am I saying? I most certainly am. I've been working on a project called Reassembling Marion for the past 4 or so years. The project involves the reassembling of thoughts images, and memories centered around my Grandmother.

So when I came across this piece on Vimeo today, it initially struck me as beautiful. I felt like the entire video the subject was trying to explain to me why he spends so much time, money and energy on doing something so tedious. Preach on my man, you don't have to tell me why it feels so important to you to do this kind of work. I'm so envious of his abilities to process, develop, scan, and edit all of the images in an "in home" studio type space. This is work that is as important as famous documentarian's like Ken Burns. Taking imagery of any significance, and giving it a platform on which to stand. Keep up the amazing work!!

After seeing Gone Girl back in late two thousand fourteen. It got me thinking about some of my favorite films that it David Fincher's film reminded me of. Not startling at all is the fact that one of my favorites from the mid-ninties was also a Fincher film starring Michael Douglass.

The Game is the epitome of cinematic filmmaking. The story is something everyone always wants to reference with regards to their favorite films. In an age where big budgets, large scale computer graphics, and high budget visual effects are running popular blockbusters. It's so nice to take a step back, and look at a film that was pretty genius for it's time. The Game is easily one of my favorite movies. Not because of anything more than a well crafted story with up's and down's twists and turn's and eventually a conclusion that at the time left people breathless.

Similar to The Game, David Fincher's most recent effort Gone Girl packs some of the same punch. Well crafted story, put together in cinematic form with ease and grace. Allowing the viewer to be taken through a paralyzing world of heartache.

The whole reason for my trip down memory lane was because seeing this film reminded me of the time I saw The Game, and then all of the other films of an era full of some of the best psychological thriller's. My favorites being some of those listed below. Maybe you'll get a chance to grab a few hours, dial up one or two of these on Netflix and enjoy what I think are some of my favorites for nostalgic and cinematic reasons. I may be wrong... but I'm not.

I was thinking about sentimentality for a few hours on Friday. The unique gifts that Father’s pass down to their children to pass down to their children. I was thinking about if this existed in my family. I’m not sure if it does. That got me thinking about gifts that my father has given me that held any sort of sentimental value and that brought back some memories.

I'd like to force myself to write more. I used to have so many things that I wanted to say and get off my chest, and somewhere between careers, family, and working out I've sort of lost that feeling. Or maybe I just felt like the internet world was too oversaturated with the same topics I wasn't really sure where I fit in.

Speaking to that, a long long time ago I wrote a song entitled "Never Found My Niché". I wrote the lyrics when channeling the sense I felt when I was told I was "too punk to play sports" or "to jock to be punk". How even though I was standing in a room with people of the exact same youth subculture, I never really felt like I fit in.

I've grown so much over the past five years. Even in the last four years since leaving San Francisco and moving to Los Angeles I've grown so much further past the uncomfortable, unsure young man I was. At the time I felt like I could never live anywhere but the San Francisco Bay Area and after moving down to Los Angeles I've started to feel as if this was where I was meant to be. Of course I feel bogged down by this city as I would in any city. I feel like I can't afford to do the things I'd love to do, I feel as if three quarters of my life is spent deciding whether or not it's worth it to sit in traffic. However, I've learned many things about myself after uprooting our lives, moving to the Southland, getting a dog, having a baby, and then preparing for our second. I've learned my value, and my worth. The worth of my time and effort. I've learned about being a father. I've learned to manage my anxieties and stress levels. I've tried my best to learn to live in moments, and enjoy life as it comes. Yet still I'm not sure where my thoughts, idea's, concerns, and interests fit in.

I'm interested in conversations about what being a man means. What being a good parent, care taker, provider, lover, what all that means for me. Where I can find time to fit in who I am and what I am. Where does this exist? I want to slam fists into a heavy bag or a pair of mitts, then walk away and talk about how much snuggling with my son means to me. How much it means to me that we're able to give kisses and hugs. Discuss the fact that the SECOND my son finds hugs and kisses with his papa to be weird, I will be destroyed. Then how I pick up my world and continue to try and hug and kiss him and his brother.

So... Writing... For now? I'll try this website Medium, and see if I can get some of these thoughts out and down in a casual manner. First off? My morning rituals, or what I like to call. The Buffer.

It's that time of year again folks. We take a look back through the past year, and take note of the triumphs and tragedies. Of which our family had many of both this year. Not only has Ollie changed from a tiny baby to a raging toddler, but his mama and papa have adjusted and changed so much as well. We've done things we'd never thought were plausible and traveled to the other side of the world. Our family hopes that your two thousand fourteen was exceptional, and we wish you the best for two thousand and fifteen. Remember to breathe, get some exercise, and do things that make you smile. This life is too short for anything else.

I know it's a little late for this, being that the distance to Christmas Day can be counted in hours at this point. However, I just wanted to share a little bit about our Thanksgiving. We live in California where right now the temperature has dipped down to the 50's, meaning that we're all freezing here. There are barely any heaters, and here on the west side, even air conditioning is left out. This November however, was a different story. We were able to spend most of our day in short sleeves, enjoying the afternoon sun in the backyard of my mothers house. In an attempt to make life a little easier, we ordered a four person Thanksgiving meal from Whole Foods, and heated it up before dinner. We just wanted the day to be enjoyable for everyone, not just for those who didn't have to cook or clean. We spent the time watching some football, splashing in a d.i.y. pool out back, and taking strolls to watch the train fly by on the Pacific Surfliner route. Here are a few photo's from our stay.

We're excited to let you know about our ever changing lives, and our expanding immediate family. We've got a long road of getting ready ahead of us, and most likely this will cause us to have to make the big step and move out of our wonderful home that has treated us so well over the last three and a half years, but we're in it now. Excited to see what tomorrow brings.

Really enjoyed this quick little article done by "The Music Bed" on Werner Herzog's guide to filmmaking. If you're not familiar with Werner, I think he's most recognized for his film "Grizzly Man". He has a unique very documentary style outlook on the process of filmmaking. If it's a story that needs to be told, you will tell it. You'll make that film. You'll rob a bank if you have to.

Enjoy the read, then proceed onto enjoying the licensable music provided by The Music Bed.

Was doing some browsing during a render today and came across this great body of work done for the The Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park. I remember him being a bit of a reckless kind of character, but not what is depicted in the images below. Regardless of what I knew about the guy, any suggestions on which book I should try and reserve at the library for my reading material over the holiday break? Drop some suggests in the comments will you?

I got a chance to finally step foot into the Freeman Seattle store on my trip to the Pacific Northwest back in October. Spent some time talking with Scott and Brittany about Freeman Seattle, the store, their open house parties, and the products they sell at their beautifully built out store in Capitol Hill.

If you haven't had a chance to check out Freeman's product line. I think it's time you should. The rainy weather has started, it's time to bundle up and keep warm, and Freeman is just the jacket to do that. They do raincoats that breathe and that are fitted. So that instead of looking like you just rolled out of bed and put on whatever was closest that will keep the rain off your body. You can now look just as put together in the rainy weather as you do in the middle of spring.

With Thanksgiving behind us, and the long weekend of devouring like we were about to hibernate through April in our rearview. It' nice to get home and make a little snack that's light and full of vitamins. I'm looking forward to getting back into my routine... that is, until the next stuff your face holiday arrives.

I was on the peruse this morning checking out my friend Lorenzo's blog and he had posted up this great piece on Tim Fite for PF Flyers. I must admit, I wasn't well versed in Tim Fite's work or who he was as an Artist. I may have fell down the rabbit hole a bit in really learning about Tim and his work. I downloaded a bunch of records, and just started listening and checking out his art.

I must say I've really enjoyed myself. Even if I can't find this "Jobs" song anywhere. I need to grab it and have it on my iDevice for constant enjoyment.

When people ask me "What do you do?" I answer in a very confused fashion. I find it very difficult to explain who I am and what it is that satisfies my soul. I do it, constantly, but I'm not exactly sure how to explain it. Although I may feel as if Tim Fite is a million times more talented and more focused. I'm right there with him. I don't know how to explain myself.

"What do we bring to this place? Is there any offering in anything we can add that isn't already here?"

I just came across this beautiful piece by my buddy Sinuhe Xavier who I worked with a few years back on some commercial projects he had shot.

The concept of wilderness has been very intriguing to me. No I haven't been able to get outdoors and do those things that I lust after in a very long time. Life has caught up to me, bringing me more and more indoors. Confining me more and more to a city of sprawl, a city of nowhere at all.

All I can think of is. "I hope by the time I get to go out there and live in the wilderness with my son. It hasn't been ruined."

The mama and I had a little fun this past weekend messing around with a new overhead setup. Still working out a few kinks in the system but hopefully we'll be able to create some beautiful stuff from this kind of setup in the future. It's tough because with different cameras it handles the white balance and exposure differently.

Took me a couple of days to find a music track suitable for this fun little piece. I love what I finally came upon. A great little "world/jazz" track that was Creative Commons license. Beautiful work by Imperial Tiger Orchestra on this track. Hopefully you'll do some more that is similar? I love the quirky, but moody vibe. Hope you guys enjoy it too.

For a week or so I've been really feeling the stress and anxiety of where I am in my head right now. I've been feeling the weight of balancing work and life. Balancing creativity and a need to make a living. I've been struggling to figure out who I am and what I do around here. Then for some reason I clicked "play" on this piece. I found it oddly terrifying, and totally comforting at the same time. I'm so impressed by the piece from an editorial standpoint, but really during my first viewing. (that's right, my first). I only really watched for content, finding that it was feeling like Mac Premo was talking to me. Face to face, man to man. Hope you enjoy.

Came across this beautiful piece on the VSCO Journal site. A little write up on a wildfire firefighter who uses his iPhone to document his work and journey. I'm always in awe of this profession. It's such an important role in our society, however it seems so thankless. No one is saying "support our wildfire firefighters." Or are they and I am just out of touch?

Either way, a beautiful write up on the photographer after the jump. Let me be the first in my life to say "Thank you brave men and women. Support our wildfire firefighters."

My wife had this piece sent to her by our good friend Rob Alexander this morning. I was so pleasantly comforted when watching it. I'm staring down two straight fourteen hour days right now and I'm trying to do my best to stay calm, relaxed and power through. This was a great way to ease into the chair this morning. I hope it finds you the same way.

Side note: I asked my wife the other day if I was truly experiencing life, when all I want to do is document it. I couldn't help but think when watching this. This is the way I viewed Paris. Of course occasionally I'd look up, have an espresso and truly take in my surroundings, but really I had my face through a view finder for a lot of the trip. If you feel so inclined, let me know what you think about an "experience" when all you want to do is create something so you can share that experience with others. Am I living life when I feel like I'm "taking in this world from a window."? - David x Wood.